Page 224 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Rome

222  ROME AREA B Y AREA

skirmish between papal troops There are also plants such
and Republicans. The conse- as the ginkgo that have
quent French occupation of survived virtually unchanged
the city, and the deportation from prehistoric eras. The
of Pope Pius VI led to the gardens were originally part of
proclamation of a short-lived the Palazzo Corsini, but since
Roman Republic (1798–99). 1983 have belonged to the
University of Rome.
3 Porta Settimiana
Between Via della Scala and Via della
Lungara. Map 4 D5 & 11 B5.
@ 23, 280.
This gate was built in 1498 by
Pope Alexander VI Borgia to
Queen Christina’s bedroom in the replace a minor passageway
Palazzo Corsini in the Aurelian Wall. The Porta
Settimiana marks the start of
2 Palazzo Corsini Via della Lungara, a long,
and Galleria straight road built in the early Base of the Garibaldi Monument
Nazionale d’Arte 16th century. 5 Garibaldi
Antica
4 Botanical Monument
Via della Lungara 10. Map 4 D5 & 11 A5. Gardens Piazzale Giuseppe Garibaldi.
Tel 06-6880 2323. @ 23, 280. Open Map 3 C5. @ 870.
8:30am–7:30pm Mon, Wed–Sun. Largo Cristina di Svezia 24, off Via
Closed Jan 1, Dec 25. & ^ = 7 Corsini. Map 4 D5. Tel 06-4991 7108.
8 ∑ galleriacorsini.beniculturali.it @ 23, 280. Open Apr–Sep: 9:30am– This huge equestrian statue is
6:30pm Mon–Sat; Oct–Mar: 9:30am– part of a commemorative park,
The history of Palazzo Corsini is 5:30pm Mon–Sat. Closed public hols. recalling the heroic events
intimately entwined with that & 8 (call for a reservation). witnessed on the Janiculum
of Rome. Built for Cardinal when the French army attacked
Domenico Riario in 1510–12, it Sequoias, palm trees, and the city in 1849. Garibaldi’s
has boasted among its many collections of orchids and Republicans fended off the
distinguished guests Bramante, bromeliads are cultivated in greatly superior French forces
the young Michelangelo, Rome’s Botanical Gardens for weeks, until the Italians
Erasmus, and Queen Christina of (Orto Botanico). These tranquil were overwhelmed. Garibaldi
Sweden, who died here in 1689. gardens contain more than and his men escaped. The
The old palazzo was completely 7,000 plant species from all monument, erected in 1895,
rebuilt for Cardinal Neri Corsini over the world. Indigenous and was the work of Emilio Gallori.
by Ferdinando Fuga in 1736. exotic species are grouped to Around the pedestal are four
Via della Lungara is too narrow illustrate their botanical families smaller sculptures in bronze,
for a good frontal view, so Fuga and their adaptation to different showing battle scenes and
designed the facade so it could climates and ecosystems. allegorical figures.
be seen from an angle.
Palazzo Corsini houses the
Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Antica,
also known as Galleria Corsini.
This outstanding collection
includes paintings by Rubens,
Van Dyck, Murillo, Caravaggio,
and Guido Reni, together with
17th- and 18th-century Italian
regional art. The palazzo is also
home to the Accademia dei
Lincei, a learned society founded
in 1603, which once included
Galileo among its members.
In 1797 Palazzo Corsini was
the backdrop to momentous
events: French General Duphot
(the fiancé of Napoleon’s sister
Pauline) was killed here in a Steps and tiered fountains at the Botanical Gardens

US_222-223_EW_Rome_US.indd 222 15/03/17 4:21 pm